Gio Ruggiero Scores First Career Truck Win At Talladega

Gio Ruggiero captured his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win in Friday’s Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

LINCOLN, Ala. — Gio Ruggiero made history on Friday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway, claiming his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victory in the Love’s RV Stop 225 after a dominant run with his Toyota teammate Corey Heim.

Ruggiero started from the pole in his No. 17 First Auto Group Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage and quickly established himself as the man to beat. Leading six times for a race-high 37 laps, the rookie combined raw speed with racecraft, navigating the chaos of the 2.66-mile superspeedway to take both Stage 2 and the overall victory.

After finishing ninth in Stage 1, won by Rajah Caruth, Ruggiero made his presence felt in Stage 2, asserting himself at the front and holding off a surging field. Superspeedways are notoriously unpredictable, but Ruggiero and his crew found a perfect setup and timing, putting the 17 team in position to dominate.

“Yeah, it was great. He [Corey Heim] did a great job all day helping me. He was the best pusher, and I was really happy when he was behind me for sure. I knew I had a good shot there at the end. I just didn’t want to let our group down. We had such a fast truck, and I know a superspeedway can be a bit of a wild card race sometimes, but I feel like truckwise we dominated this one,” Ruggiero said after the race.

Heim, Ruggiero’s TRICON Garage teammate in the No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, ran close behind for much of the night. On the final restart with just laps to go, Heim stayed patient and provided the push Ruggiero needed.

“It was a debatable choice for sure. I wasn’t sure which lane would work. I thought the 17 had good speed and he did a good job kind of keeping the gap close and stuff. Our truck is clean like it unloaded right now so I thought we had enough speed to push him out and stay out there. The outside was just too risky for people leaving us so that was kind of my mindset. Overall, a great day. Gio [Ruggiero] did a great job. He deserved to win that one. I’m proud of those guys in the 17 group and I’m also proud of our 11 crew,” Heim said.

The final lap at Talladega, a place where drafting, split-second decisions, and raw horsepower collide, saw Ruggiero and Heim maintain position amid a flurry of moves from competitors like Ty Majeski and Ben Rhodes. With 17 lead changes among 11 drivers, the race offered constant shifts and challenges, yet the No. 17 team remained composed, showing rookie poise and veteran strategy.

Gio Ruggiero had plentiful help from Corey Heim in Friday’s Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

“Yeah, for sure I had to hang on a little bit there, but he (Corey Heim) was doing a great job pushing me and just had to keep it straight and keep it square,” Ruggiero said.

The margin of victory was just 0.059 seconds, underscoring how tight superspeedway finishes can be. It was a triumph not born of luck but calculated aggression and precise teamwork.

“It feels great. It’s a great accomplishment. We’ve been working so hard at this all year and to win in my rookie season like this is awesome especially with the last couple weeks with the top-fives and top-threes that we’ve had. I think we can have a good end to our season and have a good chance to win at Martinsville or Phoenix,” Ruggiero added.

Ruggiero’s victory continued a strong season for TRICON Garage at superspeedways. His careful navigation of the field, strategic lane choice, and use of his teammate as a pusher exemplified how teamwork can make the difference at a track where one misstep can send a contender spinning.

The top-five featured a mix of rookies and veterans, with Heim finishing second, Majeski third, Dawson Sutton fourth, and Layne Riggs fifth. Tyler Ankrum, Matt Crafton, Corey LaJoie, Caruth and Kaden Honeycutt rounded out the top ten. Ruggiero’s ability to win in such a competitive environment marks a significant milestone for both the driver and TRICON Garage.

Talladega’s reputation for chaos was on full display. Mainly, seven cautions for 29 laps interrupted the race at various points, including incidents involving Luke Fenhaus, Toni Breidinger and Daniel Hemric. Despite the disruptions, Ruggiero and Heim managed to remain in position, proving their trucks were both fast and stable.

The race featured a strategic dance between the bottom and top lanes, drivers constantly evaluating which line would yield maximum momentum. Heim’s patience on the final restart exemplified the careful calculation needed at Talladega, a place where even a momentary hesitation can spell disaster.

Ruggiero’s win comes during a rookie season filled with promise. After a series of top-fives and top-threes, his first career victory adds both confidence and momentum heading into the final races of the season. The driver’s calm approach, paired with the strategic push from Heim, showcases how a rookie can flourish under pressure when team dynamics align.

For fans, the race offered high-speed drama and a finish that will be remembered for both the close margin and the rookie’s triumph. TRICON Garage celebrated not just the win but the collaboration that made it possible.

Gio Ruggiero became the third Massachusetts native to win at Talladega, joining Pete Hamilton (1970) and Ron Bouchard (1981) to prevail at “The World’s Fastest Superspeedway.” (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

The victory also marks a notable chapter in the ongoing Toyota vs. Ford vs. Chevrolet battle on superspeedways. With Toyota taking the top two spots, TRICON Garage showed how strategic teamwork and drafting partnerships can translate into race-winning speed, even against experienced playoff drivers.

Ruggiero’s focus on precision, drafting awareness, and smart use of his teammate Heim’s push proved decisive. Superspeedway racing often tests patience, trust, and execution, all of which the rookie demonstrated under pressure.

As the Truck Series heads toward Martinsville and Phoenix, Ruggiero’s first win establishes him as a serious contender for additional victories and potentially for playoff momentum. His rookie campaign has now evolved from promising to proven, showcasing a driver who can both compete and win at NASCAR’s most unpredictable tracks.

The night concluded with cheers for the rookie, celebration for TRICON Garage, and respect from rivals for a driver who navigated Talladega’s mayhem without error. Ruggiero’s first victory is a defining career milestone, one that promises more thrilling moments in the Truck Series for fans and drivers alike with the penultimate showdown on Friday, Oct. 24, with the Slim Jim 200 at Martinsville Speedway.

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

Gio Ruggiero celebrates his win in Friday’s Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway Race Results